VX26 REGISTRATION IS OPEN

VX2026 PRELIMINARY PROGRAM
19th Annual VerdeXchange Marketmakers Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026 · Millennium Biltmore Hotel · Los Angeles
⚠ Subject to Change

SUNDAY, MAY 31

3:15 PM – 6:30 PM VX26 VIP Orientation Reception — Residence of Japan Consul General

6:45 PM – 9:00 PM VX/Mayer Brown/Stantec VIP Dinner — WCC

MONDAY, JUNE 1

7:00 AM · Doors Open: Welcome to VX26

8:20–9:15 AM · PLENARY 1: Infrastructure in Transition: Can Wise Regulation and Technology Solve Systemic Infrastructure Challenges?

9:15–10:05 AM · PLENARY 2: Disasters: Preparedness, Response & Resiliency —How Do We Better Respond?

10:05–10:55 AM · Concurrent Sessions

• What's Taking So Damn Long? Fixing Energy Project Permitting

• Local and Regional Responses to Drought, Flood & Emergency Preparedness

• Climate Districts for Disaster Recovery — PCH as the Common Denominator (Moderator:  Larry Kosmont)

• Can We Still Build Big Things? Part 1 — Lessons from CHPE (Moderator: Kathleen Brown)

10:55 AM – 11:00 AM — Break

11:00 –11:45 AM · Concurrent Sessions

• Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition (Moderator: John Shegerian)

• Data Center Water Reality — Closed Loop vs. Real Cost (Moderator: Sara Neff)

• Automation & the Future of Mobility (Moderator: Billy Riggs)

• Can We Still Build Big Things? Part 2 — Private Dollars (Moderator: Kathleen Brown)

• Deploy Action Private Briefing — 11:45 AM (begins)

• Water Charrette — 11:35 AM (begins)

11:50 AM–12:35 PM · Concurrent Sessions

• SB 905 — Getting the Most from What We've Already Paid For (Moderator: Arnab Pal)

• Data Center Siting & Permitting — Getting to Yes (Moderator: Aura Vasquez)

• V2G — Finally Ready for Prime Time? (Moderator: Jim Kelly)

• Fire Prevention Strategy with a Double Bottom Line — Conservation Corps & Sepulveda Basin (Moderator: Ross Zelen)

12:30 PM · Lunch Served · Special Remarks

12:50–1:40 PM · LUNCH PLENARY 1: Energy, AI & the Grid(Moderator: Rebecca Lee)

1:40–2:25 PM · LUNCH PLENARY 2: Scaling an Affordability Agenda

2:25–2:45 PM · Public/Private Partnerships: Rebuilding Fire-Scorched Palisades and Altadena

2:45–3:30 PM · Concurrent Sessions

• Operate Today, Transform for Tomorrow — Infrastructure Balancing & Behind-the-Meter Gas (Moderator: Jim Kelly)

• Investing in Nature-Based Solutions — Valuing Ecosystem Services for California's Future (Moderator: Miguel Luna)

• EV Market Momentum — Pullbacks and Progress (Moderator: Phil Recht)

• Green Capital: Financing & Policy to Scale Innovation (Moderator: Kathleen Brown)

• By Invitation Roundtable: Scaling Heat Pump Deployment — SoCal's $40M Investment Plan (Facilitator: Ross Zelen)

3:40–4:25 PM · Concurrent Sessions

• Solar and Battery Storage — Getting the Policies Right (Moderator: Eliot Abel)

• AI for Water Security & Asset Management — Cyber Resiliency & Continuity of Operations

• Intelligent Urban Infrastructure — Sepulveda Corridor Case Study

• LAEDC/WTC International Cleantech Pitch Session

4:30–5:20 PM · Concurrent Sessions

• Speed to Power — Get the Power You Need, When You Need It (Moderator: Victoria Harmon)

• Advanced Generation — Fusion (Moderator: Bob Powell)

• Embracing Flexibility — Heavy Duty Trucking: Battery Electric and Hydrogen (Moderator: Terry O'Day)

• WTC Consular Panel (Moderator: Stephen Cheung)

6:30 PM
Canada / Germany / Quebec / VX Hosted Dinner (By Invitation)

TUESDAY, JUNE 2

7:15 AM · Welcome Day 2

7:10–8:10 AMThe Middle East Energy & Security Briefing (Breakfast) — By Invitation

8:15–9:00 AM · Infrastructure & The Olympics: Preparation, Execution & Legacy
(Moderator: Andrea Ambrose)

9:10–10:00 AM · Concurrent Sessions

• Affordable Housing: Is the Model Broken? (Moderator: Rick Cole)

• The War on Wildfire: AI, Autonomous Systems & Breakthrough Technologies (Moderator: Joe Baystack)

• Wildfire Liability and Insurance — Who Pays? (Moderator: Jules Radcliff)

• Session 1: Decarbonizing Ports, Maritime Uses & the Global Supply Chain (Moderator: Lex Heslin)

10:10–11:00 AM · Concurrent Sessions

• Resiliency Hubs & Building Decarbonization

• Ports: Zero-Emission Operations by 2035 — What's the Real Plan? (Moderator: Mary Nichols)

• Can CA Create a Truly Circular Economy? (Moderator: Coby Skye)

• Session 2: Japan's Global Leadership in Hydrogen & Ammonia Project Deployment (Moderator: Takehito Yokoo)

11:10–11:50 AM · Concurrent Sessions

• Making Power Happen — In an Era of AI, Finance, Regulatory & Political Headwinds (Moderator: Tom Soto)

• India — Climate Tech: Scaling Collaboration with California (Moderator: Anil Tammineedi)

• Breaking the Toxic Cycle of Hazardous Products (Moderator: Heidi Sanborn)

• Session 3: U.S. Hydrogen & Ammonia Market Reality — Which Business Models Are Working? (Moderator: Lex Heslin)

12:00 PM · Lunch Served

12:00–1:45 PM · LUNCH PLENARY: The Innovators — Breakthrough Ideas That Could Change the Game(Moderators: Phil Washington & John Shegerian)

2:00–2:50 PM · Concurrent Sessions

• The Future of Long-Duration Energy Storage (Moderator: Evan Birenbaum)

• Workforce in the 21st Century (Moderator: Ben Stapleton)

• New Nuclear — Is It Finally Here? (Moderator: Phil Washington)

• US Reality — Post-IRA Hydrogen Business Models

• Session 4: Hydrogen Plus Alternative Energy Solutions for Backup Power & Resiliency (Moderator: Lorraine Paskett) - 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

3:00–3:50 PM · Concurrent Sessions

• Building Decarbonization — Hard Truths & Unintended Consequences (Moderator: Jim Kelly)

• How AI Is Redefining Education (Moderator: Loni Mahanta)

• Efficiency, Sustainability & Resilience — Materials and Housing Innovations (Moderator: Aura Vasquez)

• Remediating Climate-Impacted Infrastructure (Moderator: Tom Small)

• Decarbonizing Ships — Methanol, Ammonia & Emerging Approaches

• Session 5: Global Hydrogen & Ammonia Market Reality — How Europe & Asia Are Filling the Vacuum & Developing Energy Security (Moderator: Robert Hertzberg) - 3:10 PM – 4:10 PM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3

7:00 AM · Doors Open

8:00–8:20 AM Welcome — Day 3

8:30–10:00 AM · PLENARY Working Harbor Tour — San Pedro Bay Ports
Joined by Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach Leadership

11:00–11:10 AM AltaSea Remarks

11:10–11:50 AM Featured Remarks + Panel: Blue Economy & AltaSea (Moderator: Brian Goldstein)

Preliminary program — subject to change. Check back on verdexchange.org for the latest updates.